The nutritional status of patients starting specialized predialysis care

Abstract

Objective: To examine the prevalence of and risk factors for malnutrition at the start of specialized predialysis care.

Design: The present analysis was performed on cross-sectional data collected at inclusion in the study. The study included 25 outpatient clinics delivering specialized predialysis care in the Netherlands.

Subjects: Three hundred seventy-six incident patients with advanced chronic kidney disease attending one of the participating outpatient clinics.

Main outcome measure: Subjective global assessment (SGA) of nutritional status.

Results: At the start of specialized predialysis care, 11% of patients suffer from moderate protein-energy wasting as measured by SGA. Independent risk factors are age >75 years (Odds ratio [OR], 3.88 [1.74-8.66]), female gender (OR, 2.95 [1.37-6.32]), and having a body mass index <25 kg/m(2) (OR, 2.56 [1.19-5.49]). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was not significantly associated with SGA (OR, 1.63 [0.76-3.48]).

Conclusions: Eleven percent of patients started on specialized predialysis care suffer from moderate protein-energy wasting; risk factors are age >75 years, female gender, and BMI <25 kg/m(2).